Wouldn’t It Be Nice?

Oct. 5 is a day to show your kindness

We’re giving you a whole week to gear up for national “Do Something Nice Day.” Not to be confused with “Sweetest Day,” which always falls on the third Saturday in October, Do Something Nice Day always sticks to Oct. 5. It’s a day to remind us all to pay a little (or a lot of) attention to doing something thoughtful for someone else – or for several people.
Coincidentally, Oct. 5 reportedly is also the most common birthday in this country. Why? Do the math: The heavy number of birthdays on Oct. 5 is linked to more babies being conceived on or right around New Year’s Eve. According to anybirthday.com, [http://www.anybirthday.com/ ] an average of 12,576 babies are born each year on Oct. 5; at the “low” end, an average of 10,259 babies are born on May 22.
So celebrate all those nice babies being born, and also how nice you can be to others. With the arrival of October, it’s a fine time to visit the Atlanta Botanical Garden, where more than 100 scarecrows – crafted by metro-area businesses, organizations and individuals – will be on display all month (details below). Atlanta Parent staff created “The Ten Man” for the 10th annual Scarecrows in the Garden event. Ten Man can help inspire you to “do something nice. He suggests “10 ways to show you have a heart.” Here are our scarecrow’s ideas:

Atlanta Parent’s The Ten Man: 10 Ways to Show You Have a Heart

1)

Help your neighbor rake some leaves -- even if they didn’t ask you to.

2)

Read a child his favorite storybook -- yes, again!

3)

Pay for the person behind you in a drive-through, or at the toll booth, or in line at the movies.

4)

Buy a postage stamp and pretty card; write a thoughtful note and mail it to an old friend.

5)

Make a batch of cookies and take them to your local firehouse.

6)

Wave and smile -- even blow a kiss -- to the next person who is rude to you.

7)

Share the extras from your garden with a food bank or shelter.

8)

Volunteer at the library or your local school – even if you don’t have a child at that school.

9)

When you see a sweet doggie looking lost, stop and see if she's wearing a tag that bears a phone number. The sweet doggie's owner's heart could be breaking, and you will mend it.